Carol Jane Whittaker (nee Tarasko) of Wayne, N.J., formerly of Rutherford, N.J., was called home to our Lord on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018. She was 71 years old. Carol was the devoted partner, best friend, and wife of William Herbert Whittaker. They met at the Outrigger in Totowa, N.J., on April 7, 1978, and began their united life together 36 years ago on June 13, 1982. She was the loving stepmother to her daughter, Wendy Holmberg and her husband, Richard, of Sarasota, Fla., and her son, Scott Whittaker and his wife, Janet, of Waymart, Pa. Being an only child brought a special closeness to the cousins in her family who were always very dear to her. Carol was born in Passaic on Oct. 10, 1946, to Jane and Sylvan "Joe" Tarasko. The family moved to Rutherford when she was five years old and where she attended Union School. She graduated Rutherford High School (Class of 1964). Two months later Carol joined S. B. Penick & Company (later known as Penick Corporation) in Lyndhurst, N.J., and Newark, N.J., where she held various secretarial/ administrative assistant positions totaling 31 years. Organizational skills at Penick led her to take charge of a multitude of retirement parties, company picnics, and bowling banquets. Carol then pursued a position in the Regulatory Affairs Department of Organon Inc., located in West Orange, N.J., and later Roseland, N.J., from where she retired after 12 years of service. And for more than 33 years Carol and her mother, Jane Tarasko, were also Avon representatives. Carol was a devoted bowler and in several leagues, holding all the various offices, and carrying a 172 as her highest average. Since her retirement you could find her on the computer either playing games on POGO, staying in touch with family and friends through emails, or just surfing the internet. Of course, that was when she was not in a casino in Atlantic City or Pennsylvania. She was a member of AARP. In the past she served as a Eucharistic minister in Holy Cross R.C. Church in Wayne, N.J. She loved going on vacations - whether it was a cruise south to the Caribbean or north to Canada, or a car trip to Maine, Pennsylvania, or Tennessee and North Carolina. Holidays and birthdays were always very special to her especially since they were spent with her very dear cousins (and let's not forget Penny - their adorable dog who chimed in to sing "Happy Birthday"). Family and friends meant everything to her. Carol's personality, thoughtfulness, and smile will be dearly missed. Funeral is Saturday at 9 a.m. from the Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home, 425 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst, N.J. Funeral Mass is at 10 a.m. at St. Michael's R.C. Church. Interment is in Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends will be received Friday, from 2 to 4